Question 1

How long can I live with chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

Accepted Answer

Living with CKD depends on your age, other health problems, and how involved you become in your care. Most people with early CKD will never have kidney failure. Others will reach kidney failure and may live for decades with dialysis or kidney transplants. The survival rate for kidney diseases depends on treatment methods and healthy lifestyle habits.

Question 2

How does diet affect kidney function?

Accepted Answer

One way to preserve your kidney function is to modify your diet. Proper nutrition can reduce the workload of the kidneys and preserve or delay further progression of your kidney disease. A renal dietitian can help you make good choices with the foods you normally eat and make suggestions on foods to add and foods to moderate in your diet. The dietitian is an important part of your healthcare team and can assist you in living well with chronic kidney disease.

Question 3

Can I still have a good life if I need dialysis?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can live long and live well with dialysis. It is often observed that people who are very sick before they start dialysis feel much better a few weeks or months later. Feel free to consult a doctor to clear all your doubts about kidney dialysis.

Question 4

What are the first signs of kidney disease?

Accepted Answer

Here are a few early signs that you might have kidney disease:

Fatigue
Poor appetite
Chills (Even if the weather is warm)
Shortness of breath
Dry and itchy skin
Trouble thinking clearly or concentrating
Swelling of ankles, legs and hands
Ammonia breath
Urge to urinate more often
Bloody or foamy urine
Persistent puffiness of eyes
Muscle twitching or cramping

Question 5

What Causes Chronic Kidney Disease?

Accepted Answer

CKD typically develops over a long period of time. It often develops due to underlying health conditions that can affect the kidneys. Causes of CKD include:

1. Diabetes: When your blood sugar is too high for a long time, it causes damage to many body organs, including the kidneys, heart, blood vessels, nerves and eyes.

2. High blood pressure: High BP or Hypertension, if poorly controlled for long, can be a leading cause of strokes, heart attacks and chronic kidney disease.

3. Glomerulonephritis: It is a group of diseases that cause inflammation and damage to the kidney's filtering units.

4. Polycystic kidney disease: It is a genetic condition that causes large cysts to form in the kidney and damage the surrounding tissue.

Question 6

Does Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) always lead to kidney failure?

Accepted Answer

Chronic kidney disease is a condition that damages your kidneys and their ability to perform. If not treated properly, the amount of waste can build in high levels in your blood and make you feel sick. When CKD progresses, if not treated medically, it may eventually lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life. Also, it increases the risk of having heart and blood vessel disease.

Question 7

What are the 5 stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

Accepted Answer

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate or eGFR is a number based on your blood test for creatinine, a waste product in your blood. It indicates how well your kidneys are working. The stages of kidney disease are based on the eGFR number.

Stage 1 CKD: An eGFR of 90 or greater means your kidneys are healthy and working well
Stage 2 CKD: If the eGFR is between 60 and 89, it indicates you have mild kidney damage
Stage 3 CKD: An eGFR between 30 and 59 means that there is some damage to your kidneys, and they are not working as well as they should.
Stage 4 CKD: If the eGFR is between 15 and 29, your kidneys are moderately or severely damaged. This stage should be taken very seriously.
Stage 5 CKD: An eGFR of less than 15 means the kidneys are getting very close to failure or have completely failed.

Question 8

What should I do to maintain a good GFR?

Accepted Answer

GFR is an equation that uses your age, race, gender, and the creatinine level in your blood to determine how well your kidneys are working. If your eGFR is less than 60, talk to your doctor soon! At this stage, proper medication and a few healthy tips for a better lifestyle can help you win the battle of kidney disease. You can take the following steps to keep your kidneys as healthy as possible:

Maintain a healthy blood pressure
Control your blood sugar level if you are diabetic
Improve your heart and lung health
Follow a low-fat, low-salt diet
Do 30 minutes of exercise (at least 5 days a week)
Keep a healthy weight
Do not smoke or use tobacco
Talk to your doctor about medicines that might help protect your kidneys

Understanding kidney disease